clever, too, that she generally manages to create a coolness between my friends and myself before long, and hence, whenever I meet with a more charming acquaintance than usual, I studiously avoid introducing her.' The sisters exchanged glances. 'Ah!' said I, pathetically, 'you have heard as much.'
'We had,' said they in a breath, 'moreover, that she has not a good temper.'
'I am always grieved,' said I, 'to admit the faults of the absent, but it is a fact. I deplore it much, but if you will permit me to visit your charming retreat sometimes, I shall feel proud of the honour you do me, I'm sure.'
It was about half-past one. 'This is the hour,' said the widow, 'that our pupils generally dine, and we take our luncheon; if you will favour us with your company at lunch, we shall be most pleased, Captain S-, and as you are fond of a romp, we will give the children a half-holiday, and you shall be master of the revels, if you will.'
Nothing could suit my book better, so I accepted at once.
No sooner did we enter the luncheon room, than every eye was fixed upon me; they recognised me at once, and deep were the blushes on the fair maiden cheeks. 'Girls,' said the widow,
'this is Captain S-, a gentleman of good family, and a friend of my landlord, the squire, and of our worthy rector. He is very fond of young people, and will show you several new games this afternoon, and has obtained a half-holiday for you.' All eyes were turned upon me, and their expression was all I could wish. The girls got very merry over their dinner, and we over our luncheon, and I managed so to ingratiate myself with my fair hostesses, that they pressed me to stay to dinner, and to pass the evening.
'It will give me the greatest pleasure,' said I, 'but permit me to write a line to my wife, to tell her not to wait dinner.'
'By all means,' said the sisters.
'Your gardener's boy can take it, I presume,' I continued.
'Oh yes,' said the sisters, 'Dick shall take it.'
I wrote as follows -
'May I be permitted to give my injunctions to the messenger,' said I.
'Certainly,' said the widow, and she rang the bell. A servant appeared. 'Tell Dick to come up to the house directly,' she said.
Presently the same servant announced that Dick was in the hall. I went down. I eyed the lad from head to foot. 'Come out here into the garden,' said I. He was a bright, sharp boy. 'Now, my lad, look here, you know Carysfort Cottage?' said I.
'Yes, Sir.'
'You go there and deliver this note; if any of the servants or my wife asks you any questions, you will say that you came from the barracks at Winchester, mind, and that Captain S- (that's me you know) is going to dine there, and you will bring back a leathern bag with you here.'
'All right, sir,' said the lad, with a knowing look.
'You'll do, my lad,' said I, 'here's half a sov. for you.'
The boy looked first at the little bit of gold, and then at me.
'You don't mean I'm to keep this, captain?'
'Yes, be 'gad! that's for your trouble.'
'Dang it,' said Dick, 'you be a gentleman, and no mistake. All right, yer honour!'
This affair settled, I returned to the luncheon room.
'Now my dear Captain S-,' said the sisters, 'you'll excuse us accompanying you now. We are obliged to maintain a strict discipline, and the girls would not enjoy themselves half as much if we were present at the sports you are going to introduce them to; we shall therefore hope to have you all to ourselves this evening.'
I was so entirely of their opinion that I did not press the matter; and the young ladies and I sallied out together.
The swing was the first object of attraction for me, and to the swing we went.
'I'll show you how to swing my pets,' said I, and picking upon the prettiest girl among them, a charming blonde of twelve, 'Will you have a swing, my dear?' I exclaimed.
'I shall be delighted,' said the little creature.
I lifted her up to put her in, and in doing so managed to get my hand under all her clothes. She blushed, but made no opposition, so I had a good feel, and arranging her clothes so that everything would be shown, I commenced swinging her; every time she went high in air, I had an enchanting view.
At first there was a little affectation of modesty amongst them, but as I frigged them into the swing, one after another, the laughter and fun became universal. At length I proposed swinging with one of them in my lap, and took the opportunity to get into the one selected; at first she turned her blushing face towards me, and hid it in my bosom; but becoming animated with pleasure, she threw all restraint aside, flung out her legs and opened wide her thighs, so that all could see upon what sort of a pommel she was riding.
The girls surrounded us, they studied every movement, they frigged themselves and each other; they relished it immensely.
Suddenly one of them whispered, 'There's somebody coming!' so down went their clothes in an instant. I had no time to get out of my charmer, even if I had been inclined to, and contented myself with knowing that her muslin frock concealed both her and me. The gardener merely came with his mistress's compliments, and she hoped the young ladies were not getting too boisterous for me.
'Oh, dear me!' said I, 'say, with my compliments, if you please, that I am as much a child as any of them, and that we are all very happy!'
The gardener laughed and went away.
The swinging went on gaily, and ere many minutes our climax came. Most delightful was the novelty of the whole romp, and I do believe I might have had them all if I liked; but, unfortunately, just then the rope broke, and down we came to the ground. I was a good deal shaken, but I saved the girl from getting hurt.
We therefore now ran into the wood for a game at hide and seek; but, lo! just as we had all dispersed to find the hider, who should I behold coming down one of the avenues but — my wife!
I doubted not but she had found out everything, and plunged headlong into the wood; at length I reached a hedge, squeezed myself through an opening in it, and ran home at full speed.
There would be a scene of course, but I felt it was better it should take place at my house than before so many witnesses. Nothing could have been more unlucky, as it completely spoiled our sport.
I will not inflict on the reader an account of the row that ensued. Suffice to say that the boy Dick, clever as I thought him, went and told his father the injunctions I had given him about my being at Winchester. He also showed the old man the present I had made him. The gardener was a married man with daughters as well as sons. He saw me swinging with one of the young ladies in my lap (happily, he saw no more), and the rascal then went and told Augusta all he had learnt and seen.
She immediately divined the whole plot, and hence her sudden appearance on the festive scene. As to the ladies who kept the school, she rated them in no measured terms for their imprudence in allowing a rake like me such licence.
After this escapade, I could no longer remain in Hampshire, so packed my portmanteau, and was once more a gentleman at large in London.
One day I was going down Regent Street, when I met …
(The narrative here abruptly terminates, and as far as it has been possible to ascertain, itwould appear that the writer died shortly after; at all events he was never seen alive again by anyof his numerous acquaintance. — Ed.)
